Bobbin drive



Nov. 24,1959 I A. P. RUSHTON 2,913,868

BOBBIN DRIVE Filed Jan. 22. 1954 ATTORNEY INVENTOR f .fllvzsPRushilinUnited States. Patent BOBBIN DRIVE Alvis P. Rushton, Martins'ville,Va'., assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours andCo mpany, Wilmington, DeL,a corporation. of Delaware: f. :15; 1

Application January 22,1954, Serial No. 5,556 6 Claims. c1. 57-130 Aprimary object of the present invention is improvement in textilewinding by comparatively vibration-free transmission of bobbin drivingforce. Another object is increase in the useful life of bobbin drivemeans. An object is provision of inexpensive easily replaceable drivemeans for bobbins. A specific object is manufacture of bobbin drivemeans from synthetic polymeric resins. Other objects of'this inventionwill be apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdiagrams.

Figure 1 is an elevation (in section) of textile winding apparatusaccording to this invention. Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus ofFigure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the replaceable drivingmeans taken on line 2-2 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a plan view of anotherapparatus embodiment. Figure 5 is an elevation of the apparatus ofFigure 4.

In general, the objects of this invention are accomplished by providinga resilient polymeric structure shaped to mate with a recess in spindlebase or whorl and with a recess in bobbin base. This structure acts as alink between spindle and bobbin so that they rotate smoothly together.The link configuration is essentially a plurality of substantiallyradial tangs joined to one another by an arcuate portion that does notinterfere with seating of the bobbin on the whorl.

Figure 1 shows in vertical cross section one form of drive link of thisinvention in place on textile winding equipment. Frame 1 supportsspindle 2 by spindle bolster 3 journaled in bearings 4 and 4' andsurrounded by spring 5. The body of whorl 6, which is pressed on thespindle, carries a groove for a drive belt (not shown). Slot 9 is formedtransversely across the top of the whorl in line with the center, asappears more clearly in the Patented Nev. 24,1959

2 a contact with the whorl so as toprovide a grip or pry place' for easyremoval of the link from contact with spindle and whorl.

Shown separately ;is another drive link 25 (visible in Figures 4 and 5)whose annular body 27 circumscribes tangs 26, which are free at theirinner ends. The body of this link is slightly elliptical, with the minoraxis in linewith the tangs. "When squeezed alongthe major axis,transverse tothe tangs, the' tangs move slightly farther apart andthebody rounds out to permit ready mounting of the link on the whorl, withthe tangs extending inwardly and downwardly into the slot; release ofthe pressure seats the link firmly in. contact with the whorl. As withthe link shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the top part of the tangs extendsabove the slotted whorl top to engage a suitable recess in the bottom ofthe bobbin, which rests directly on the whorl top.

The drive links of this invention may be made from a synthetic polymericresin having suitably high impact and shear strength, abrasionresistance, and resilience. Ease of formation into the desired shape, asby molding or machining, is highly desirable. Products ofpolycondensation reactions, such as polyesters or polyamides, areparticularly suitable. Perhave the most readily available material atthis time is nylon, which proves eminently satisfactory on all counts.Nylon dri-ve links have a useful life at least two times 1 that ofconventional metal structures. Only the tangs, which contact both thedriving and the driven elements (whorl and bobbin), need be made of thepolymer, but it usually is most convenient to form the entire link ofit.

Instead of only two radially extending tangs, the drive link may havethree or more, usually symmetrically located about the center, extendingeither outward from an inner annular body or inward from an outerannular body, shaped analogously to those already described.

plan view of Figure 2. A threaded extension 11 at the top of the whorlcarries castellated waste spool 10.

Surrounding the spindle is drive link 15. The drive link may beconsidered to consist of tangs 16 carried on annular body 17. Thesetangs have substantially rectangular cross sections when viewed in theradial direction along arrow R and in the axial direction along arrow A.The lower part of the tangs fits into the slot in the whorl top. Theupper part of the tangs extends above the whorl top to engage a recessin the bottom of the bobbin. Sleevelike extension 18 of the link body isdesigned small enough to fit inside the bore of the bobbin to center itabout the spindle. The tangs may be extended at 19 to raise the body ofthe link "out of The described features of a sleeve to bear in thebobbin bore or a slightly non-round configuration may be employed asdesired. Of course, the tangs may be joined at both outer and innerextremities by a double body so that the resulting drive link resemblesa spoked wheel. When a waste spool of the design shown is being used,the drive link should not extend beyond the whorl top to interfere withtransfer of yarn to the waste spool or removal from it or with thewinding of a transfer tail near the base of the bobbin.

An important advantage in addition to the tremendous reduction in wearafiorded by the drive links of this invention, as compared with metaldrive means for bobbins, is the vibration dampening provided by thesedrive links. "Less vibration renders operation much quieter and moreeven, consequently improving the uniformity of the package being wound.A notable feature of the drive links of this invention is that they donot raise the bobbin ofl? the whorl, which might displace or distort thewinding pattern. Of course, the initial cost of these drive links islow, so replacement is quite inexpensive, as well as simplyaccomplished. The usual light color of the polymer enables an operatorto observe readily whether a bobbin is seated properly. The polymer maybe colored during manufacture to facilitate identification for differentbobbins or materials being wound. Other advantages of practicing thepresent invention will come readily to mind.

What is claimed:

1. Bobbin drive link comprising a plurality of tangs extendingsubstantially radially and axially from an annular body, said tangsbeing of substantially rectangular cross section in the axial direction.

2. The article of claim 1 made of nylon.

' link having a plurality of radially extending tangs .adapted to seatpartly in the bobbin'base and partly in the whorl top without raisingthe bobbin ofi thewhorl and having an arcuate portion joining the'tangsto hold them in fixed relation one to another.

6. The drive link .of ,claim 5 in which the tangs extend radiallyoutward from 'theperiphery of the body thereof.

I @iReferencesrcited in the file of this patent Product Nylon inBearings and Gears 107, inclusive.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Getchell Aug. 13, 1935 Banfield Nov. 25, 1941Courtney Aug. 7, 1951 Cabot Nov. 18, 1952 Crooks Sept, 1, 1953 FOREIGNPATENTS -.Great-Britain -.of 1877 ,Great Britain "Aug. 1, 1929 GreatBritain June 21, 1940 Germany July 10, 1928 OTHER REFERENCESEngineering, July 1950, article entitled (Wall) pages 102 to

